Loose-leaf post binder



Nov. 17, 1953 w. E. SCHROER LOOSE-LEAF POST BINDER 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov.

9mm v 6 mm r n Mm N /5 Q N m m r U H n w Nov. 17, 1953 w. E. SCHROER LOOSE-LEAF POST BINDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 30, 1950 WQLTEI? E. S HE I @144)? HTToRA/EKS [LI lHLT Nov. 17, 1953 w. E. SCHROER 2,659,373

LOOSE-LEAF POST BINDER FiledNov. 30, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet s Patented Nov. 17, .1953

LOOSE-LEAF POST BINDER Walter E. Schroer, Aflton, Mo., assignor to Loose Leaf Metals 00., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application November 30, 1950, Serial No. 198,259

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to binders adapted to retain loose leaves in book form, and more particularly to a loose leaf post binder having a novel binding assembly which may be quickly and easily adjusted to different thicknesses for the purpose of facilitating the posting of handwritten entries and in which the transfer bar is readily released.

Briefly, the present invention includes an adjustable binding assembly having attached flaps to form a binding cover of book form. The binding assembly has an expansible loose leaf retaining assembly of the post and sleeve type, the upper unit of which is removable for the purpose of adding or removing loose leaves. The loose leaf retaining assembly is disconnectably engaged by an angle assembly which cooperates with a back plate assembly through a post lock which is adapted to maintain the loose leaf retaining assembly against expansion from an adjusted thickness position. A movable lock bar which is part of the angle assembly cooperates with the post lock and with a removable unit of the loose leaf retaining assembly to provide selective release of the post lock and selective disconnection of the loose leaf retaining assembly.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a loose leaf post binder having a binding assembly which is quickly and easily expansible to facilitate the posting of handwritten entries.

It is another object of the invention to provide a loose leaf post binder in which an expansible loose leaf retaining assembly may be maintained against expansion from an adjusted position.

It is another object of the invention to provide a loose leaf post binder in which the loose leaf retaining assembly may be quickly and easily disengaged from attachment with a portion of the binding assembly to permit the addition or removal of leaves.

It is another object of the invention to provide a loose leaf post binder having a releasable post lock adapted to resist movement in one direction only.

'It is another object of the invention to provide a loose leaf post binder having a movable lock bar which is adapted selectably to release the post lock or to releasethe loose leaf retaining assembly.

Other objects of the invention are to provide aloose leaf post binder which is well suited to serve the requirements of a posting ledger, which is sturdy and dependable in its operation, and which is simple and easy to use.

Additional objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a loose leaf post binder constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a. side elevation of the loose leaf post binder of Fig. 1 with loose leaves retained therein;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional elevation taken generally along the line 3-3 of Fig. l, the leaves being removed;

Fig. 4 is a further enlarged cross-sectional plan view taken generally along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but taken generally along the line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the binder of Fig. 1 with the outside angle and upper flap removed;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the binder of Fig. 1 in open position with leaves removed, the view being taken generally from the line i-! of Fig. 9;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view of a lock bar;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevation of the binder as shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9, but with the binding assembly in expanded position;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. '7, but with the binding assembly in the expanded position of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevation of the binder as shown in Fig. 10, but with the loose leaf retaining assembly disengaged from the angle assembly and with the transfer bar assembly removed;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary View showing relative positions of a cam bracket and a release bar, wherein the post lock is engaged;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13, but showing the parts in relative positions, wherein the post lock is released;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing relative positions of the lock bar and a detent device, wherein both the post lock and the loose leaf retaining assembly are engaged, the detent being inactive;

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 15, but showing the parts in relative positions wherein the post lock is disengaged and the loose leaf retaining assembly is engaged, the detent being active;

Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 15, but showing the parts in relative positions wherein the post lock is engaged and the loose leaf retaining assembly is disengaged, the detent being inactive;

Fig. 18 is a further enlarged fragmentary 3 cross-sectional view taken generally along the line l6l8 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 19 is an isometric view of a release bar; and

Fig. 20 is a bottom plan view of a catch dog.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by means of the reference numerals thereon, a loose leafj'post binder comprises .a binding assembly 31' to which is secureda hinged upper flap 34 and a hinged lower flap 36, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The binding assembly 32" broadly comprises three cooperative sub-assent blies, viz., an angle assembly 38, a panel or back plate assembly 40, and a loose *leafretaining as'-- sembly 42. The back plateassembly'mand'the loose leaf retaining assembly 42 are hinged together and both are adapted to-separa'ble-esr gagement with the angle assembly 38, as will appear.

The angle assembly 39 comprises an outside angle 45. and aninside angleassembly 46.. The. outside angle 45 is completely covered by a pliable.::binding skin.4:1 of. leather, fabric, or. the like,.oemented or glued thereto, and whichaemtends to enclose in like manner a.cover 48, there by forming the upper. flap 3!. The cover 48, which may be of. any suitable. material, suchas. cardboard, either stiff or flexible as desired, is separated from the outside angle 45.50 as .to leave a gap 49, thus permitting the pliable binding shin. 41 to serve as a hinge for the flap34.

The inside angle assembly 46 includes a lock. post assembly 50 disposed centrally of the ends of an angle 5i so as to depend from a horizontal flange 52thereof parallel to a vertical flange 53 thereof. The lock post assembly 50 includes-a sleeve-like post 54 having a deformed end 55secured to. the horizontal. flange 52, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.. Nearthe end 55, the post has-diametrically opposedrectangular apertures.

56 having a mutual axis parallelto the angle 51. (Figs. 4 and 14) Acatch .dog '51 in the form of a plate, as shown in Fig. 20, having a bevelled edge 58, a rectangulart. aperture 59, and a lug 69, is assembled within the post 54 so that the lug 60 pivotally engages a rectangular aperture 6| in the wall-of the post 54, and so that the bevelled edge 58 is disposed so as to be vertically movable in av notch 62 in the wall'of the post 54 opposite the aperture 6|, .as shown'in Fig. .3. Itwill be noted that,.when the catch dog 51 lies in a position which approaches the horizontal, the bevelled edge 58 extends beyond the outside of the wall of the post 54, but that when it is pivoted upwardly: about the aperture 6|; the bevelled edge is withdrawn so as to be disposed completely therewithin. A release bar 63, shaped as clearly shown in Fig. 19,.andhaving a rectangular aperture 64 and an inclined ledge 65, is also assem! bled within the post 54 so asto dispose the ledge 65 beneath the catch dog 51. A compres-.

sion spring 66 surrounds a portion of the release.

bar 63 and acts between the top of the catch dog 51 and a plurality of indentations deformed from the wall of the post 54. A deformed lug N'may be pressed inwardly from the wall of the post fl'atits free end after assembly therewithin: of the various parts as above described to'prewent their accidental removal therefrom.

Astructural-member 15, having an Leshaped' cross section, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, is secured. bypeened over spacing lugs 16 to the flange 52 in spaced relation to the inner face thereof and extends from one end 01' theflange 52 to within a relatively short distance of the other end, as shown in Figs. 6, '1, 11, 15, 16, and 17. The member 15 and the flange 52 have corresponding spaced coaxial notches 11 and 18 for a purpose to appear. A lock or actuating bar 19 of the general shape clearly depicted in Fig. 8 includes an elongated fiat strip 80 having one of its ends shaped and bent to: form a handle 8|. A cam bracket 82' having an elongated fingerlike cam portion 83 extending parallel to the strip 80 is secured thereto as by riveting or weldintermediate the ends of the strip 80. The lock bar 19 is slidably disposed between the fiange b'l andthe-member 15, a portion of the latter'being' removed as indicated at 84 in Fig. 6 to provide clearance for the cam bracket 82.

Thus-=disposed;,the-lock bar 19 i retained by the lugs 16 which respectively extend through longitudinal-slots 85, 86 and 81 in the strip 90. Thus retained, the lock bar 19 is susceptible to limited longitudinal movement along the flange 52; A rectangular boss 88 is formed in the flange 52 ofxthe angle. 5| and a rectangular aperture 89 is formedin the strip 89 of the look bar.19,-the relationof the boss 88 and theaperture 89 being clearly depicted in Figs. '6, l5, l6 and 17.

this arrangement provides a detent action as. tooccupy a predetermined intermediate position along thefiange 52 and, therefore, in respect to the lock. post assembly 50 attached thereto.

Thestrip 01'. the lock bar 19' additionally haslongitudinal slots .81! and 9| which intersect respectively withtransverse-notchesM and 93'. asshown in Fig.8. The spacing of the several slotsand. notches in thestrip-BU is such that when the lock bar Us in the position of Fig. 1'1,

thenotches-92and 93 are in axial alignment with the notches :112and 18, respectively, but that when'the' positionsof' either'Fig. 15 or Fig. 16 obtain, portions? ofthe slots and 91 coincide respectively with" the axes of the notches 11 and'18.

With the lock bar 19 disposed as above tie-- scribedbetweentheflange 52 and the channel 15, .the cam portion 8910f the cam bracket 9! extends-slidably through the apertures 56 in the post-.54 and .also throughthe aperture 64 in the release. bar 63.. Asbest shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the :cam portionja includes coextensive edge portions -.95.and "with a raised edge portion 91- therebetween. Theedges95, 91 and 98 thus serve to support. therelease bar against the biasingaction of ithespring 66 for the positions'of thereby eflect withdrawal of the bevelled edge' 59 from outside thewallof the post 54' and into released position. When, however, the releasefbar'19: is supported by either of theedges -or 9.6, the1-spring 66 will be free to effeot anapproximatelyhorizontalposition of the catchdog- 51', thereby-dis'posinga portion of the bevelled edge 58 outside the wall of the post 54 and locking position as aforementioned.

'I'heinsideangle assembly 46-isdisposed within the'outsideangle 45-- so asto leave a gap or open space between the vertical flange 53"ofthe" angle 5| and a vertical flangeltoithe antic" fendangle assembii'rlt'is compietedb'y It is obvious from these figures that riveting the horizontal flange 52 of the angle I to a horizontal flange 99 of the angle 45.

The back plate assembly comprises a flat plate I00 which is preferably of the same length as the angles and 5I, but whose width is intermediate the widths of the flange 98 of the angle 45 and the flange 53 of the angle 5|. A lock sleeve bracket IOI having a transversely extending flange I02 is secured as by riveting or welding centrally of the plate I00 and a lock sleeve I03 having a deformed end I04 is secured to the flange I02, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The lock sleeve I03 is adapted slidably to receive the lock post assembly of the angle assembly 38 and has diametrically opposed notches I05 adjacent its upper end toreceive the cam portion 83 of the cam bracket 82. With the lock sleeve I03 thus engaging the lock post assembly 50, the plate I 00 is slidably received in the aforementioned space between the flanges 98 and 53 of the angles 45 and 5|, respectively. Tabs I06 may be pressed from the ends of the plate I00 so as to extend transversely therefrom and engage notches I0I formed at the ends of the flange 53 of the angle 5I, the tabs I06 and the notches I07 thus cooperating in an obvious manner to limit the normal movement between the back plate assembly 40 and the angle assembly 38. If desired, the tabs I06 and the notches I0I may be eliminated, thereby providing for simple disengagement of the angleassembly 38 and the back plate assembly 40.

The loose leaf retaining assembly 42 comprises a posting bar assembly II 0 and a transfer bar assembly III (Figs. 3, 7 and 9-12). In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the posting bar assembly I I0 includes a flat strip I I2 to which are secured two sleeves H3 and one post II 4, and the transfer bar assembly I I I includes a flat strip I i5 to which are secured one sleeve I I3 and two posts H4. The. sleeves II3 and the posts II4 may be secured as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, and it is understood that the several sleeves 1 I3 are each adapted slidably to receive a post H4 in telescoping engagement, the transfer bar assembly III being not only expansible, but also completely separable from the posting bar assembly IIO. Additionally, the strip II5 of the transfer bar assembly I I I has upstanding headed lugs II6 adapted to engage the notches I1 and I8 of the inside angle assembly 48, and, when thus disposed, to be, in turn, engaged by the slots 90 and HI in the lock bar I9. y

The plate I00 of the back plate assembly 40 and the strip I I2 of the posting bar assembly I I0 are both enclosed by a pliable binding skin I20 similar to the skin 41, the plate I00 and the strip II2 being spaced apart, however, as best shown in Fig. 3, to leave a gap I2I to permit the skin I29 to serve as a hinge therebetween.

I 22, similar to the cover 48, to form the lower flap 36, there being a gap I23 between the strip H2 and the cover I22 to permit the skin I20 to serve as a hinge for the flap 36.

I Use The normal closed position of the loose leaf 'posts Ill and between the strips I I5 and.II2 of the loose leaf retaining assembly 42. If the The skin I20 also extends togenclose a cover combined thickness of the sheets I 25 is equal to or less than a predetermined minimum dimension, the binding assembly will normally be collapsed to the position best shown in Fig. 3, wherein substantially the full length of the posts I I4 and the lock post assembly 50 are inserted into the sleeves H3 and the lock sleeve I03, re-

spectively. If the lock bar I9 is assumed to be in the locked position illustrated in Fig. 15, the headed lugs IIB will be engaged by the slots and BI, thus securing the angle assembly 38 to the loose leaf retaining assembly 42. Further, with the lock bar I9 in the position of Fig. 15, the cam portion 83 of the cam bracket 82 will be in the position of Fig. 13, wherein the release bar 63 is supported upon the edge 95, thus permitting the bevelled edge 58 of the spring-biased catch dog 5! to extend beyond the wall of the post 54 and to engage the inside surface of the lock sleeve I03, as shown in Fig. 3. It is obvious that the catch dog I03, thus disposed, will preclude the lock post assembly 50 being withdrawn from the lock sleeve I03, thus securing the back plate assembly 40 also to the angle assembly 38. The binding assembly 32, therefore, is locked in rigid position and the loose leaf binder 30 may be used in any position, such, for example, as that of Figs. '7 and 9, wherein the flaps 34 and 36 may be fully opened. g

The posting of handwritten entries upon the sheets I25 may be facilitated by expanding the binding assembly 32 to the'position illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11. This may be accomplished by moving the lock bar I9 to the posting position i Fig. 16, whereupon the cam portion 83 is disposed as shown in Fig. 14. The release bar 63 is thus lifted and causes the catch dog 51 to be withdrawn from engagement with the lock sleeve I03.

This permits the angle assembly 38 and the still secured transfer bar assembly III to be reciprocated freely with respect to the back plate as- V sembly 40 and the attached posting bar assembly H0. After posting entries as desired, the binder 32 may be returned to the collapsed position of Figs. 1, 2, 3, 7 and 9, and again locked by pushing the lock bar I9 to the position of Fig. 15, or the locking operation may be effected before the collapsing operation, it being noted thatthe catch dog 57, even though it be disposed against the in side of the lock sleeve I 03, will always permit movement of the lock post assembly in a direction to collapse the binder assembly 32. I

It is obvious from the foregoing that any coinbined thickness of sheets I 25 greater than the aforementioned predetermined minimum dimension, but equal to or less than a predetermined maximum dimension, may also be accommodated by partial withdrawal of the 'posts H4 and. the lock post assembly '50 from the sleeves I I3 and the lock sleeves I03, respectively. If the combined thickness of sheets I 25 exceeds the first mentioned predetermined dimension, the sheets I25 may be compressed between the strips I I0 and I II and retained en masse.

ing the slots 90 and 9| from the headed lugs H8 1 in the transfer bar assembly I I I. This permits.

the binding assembly 32 to be opened to the position illustrated in Fig. 12, whereupon the transfer bar assembly II I may be completely disenused from the posting bar assembly III for the addition or removal 01 sheets as desired. Upon replacement of the transfer bar assembly ii I, the binder may again be closed and locked in a manner. which is now apparent.

Clearly, the above description and the accompanying drawings disclosea novel loose leaf post binder having the advantages sought therefor.

It is understood that both thedescription and the drawings are in no sense-restrictive, and that the rearrangement of parts or the substitution of equivalent elements and principles .is considered as within the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

i. In a loose leaf binder,.in combination, .a first assembly having an upper flap hinged thereto, a second assembly .having a lower flap hinged thereto telescopically associated with said first assembly, said first assembly comprising two angle members secured together .in semi-nested relation so as to provide a slot between parallel disposed flanges thereon, .said second assembly comprising two hingedplate membersrone'of said plate members, but .not the other thereof, being adapted slidably to occupy the aforementioned slot, a first expansible meansassociated with said first and second assemblies for retaining loose leaves. including a plurality of posts and sleeves in respective telescoping engagement, said first expansible means comprising two separable units, one or said separable units being secured to said other plate member against removal and .the otheroisaid separable unitsbeing selectably releasable from said first assembly .for bodily removal from said loose lea! binder, asecond expanslble means associated with said first and secondassemblies for maintaining the same .in cooperative relation one with the other including first and second sleevesin telescoping engagement, said first sleeve being secured to said :first assembly, said second sleevebeing secured to said one of saidplate members, means disposed within said'first sleeve for sel'ectablybinding the same against movement in at least one direction relative'tozsaid second sleeve, and a member reciprocably mounted on said first assembly selectably releasing said binding means when in an intermediate position and eflecting release of said other-oi said separable units from saidfirst assembly when in one extreme position of movement, said reciprocable member both locking said binding means and securing said other of .said separable units against release when'insaidother extreme'position of movement.

2. In a loose leaf binder, in combination, .a first assembly having an upper ,fiap hinged thereto, a second assembly having a lowerifiap hinged thereto telescopically associated withsaid 60 first assembly, said first assembly comprising two angle members secured together in semi-nested relation sons to provide a slot between parallel disposed flanges thereon, said second assembly comprising two hinged plate members on of said plate members, but not the other thereof. being adapted siidably to occupy the aforementioned slot, a first expansible means associated with said first and second assemblies ior retainins loose leaves including a plurality of posts and sleeves in respective telescoping engagement, said first expansible means comprising two separable units, one of said separable units being secured to said other plate member against removal and the other 01 said separable units being selectably releasable from said first assembly for bodily removal irom said loose leai binder, a second expansible means associated with said first and second assemblies for maintaining the same in cooperative relation one with the other including first and second sleeves in telescoping engagements, said first sleeve being secured to said first assembly, said second sleeve being secured in said one oi said plate members, means disposed within said first sleeve for selectably binding the same against movement in at least one direction relative to said second sleeve, and a member reciprocably mounted on said first assembly Selectably releasing said binding means and effecting release of said other oi said separable units from said first assembly, means limiting the movement of the reciprocable member in each direction or reciprocation, detent means defining ,an intermediate position of said reciprocable member between its limit positions, a cam element secured for movement .with the reciprocable member and slidably engaging said binding means, said cam element'being adapted to effect release 01' said binding means only when said reciprocable member occupies an intermediate position of its range of reciprocable movement, a plurality of longitudinal slots formed in said reciprocable member parallel to the direction of reciprocation thereof, a transverse notch intersecting each or said longitudinal slots at one end of the latter, said notches being wider than said longitudinal slots, and a plurality of upstanding headed lugssecured to the said other of said units for respective retention in said longitudinal slots, said lugs being releasable through said notches. said lugs being so disposed relative to the reciprocable movement of the reciprocablemember as'to be retainable in said longitudinal slotswhen the reciprocable member is-either in one of said limit positions or in said intermediate position and to be releasable through said notcheswhen the reciprocable member is in the other of said limit positions.

WALTER E. SCI-IROER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES 'PA'I'EN'IS Number ,Name Date 1,018,770 Moore .Feb. 27, 1912 v71,501,243 .Schade July 15. 1924 2,148,789 Unger Feb. 28, 1939 2,489,448 :Buckner Nov. 29, 1949 

